Natasha Jonas and Stacey Copeland have won silver medals for England at the EUBC European Women’s Boxing Championships in Bucharest, Romania.

Liverpool’s Jonas took silver in the light-welterweight category after losing out in today’s final to Anastasia Beliakova of Russia.

Copeland secured her silver after losing out to Elena Vystropova of Azerbaijan in the welterweight final. It capped an incredible week for the 32-year-old from Bredbury Stockport Boxing Club who only took up the sport four years and was competing in her first major international tournament.

“I can’t quite believe what I have achieved this week,” said Copeland. “I was just looking forward to the experience of going to my first major tournament with England, so to make the final and come away with a silver medal is incredible.

“It has been a fantastic experience and I cannot wait to go to more tournaments again in the future.”

Commenting on her silver medal, which is her third major medal after bronzes at the 2011 European Championship and 2012 Worlds, Natasha Jonas said: “It is a shame that I couldn’t quite win the gold today, but overall I am pleased with my performances this week and very happy to have won a silver medal.

“I feel like I have proved a point and am now getting back to my best form which augurs well for the Commonwealth Games and World Championships later in the year.”

Lee Pullen, Senior Podium Coach from the GB Boxing programme, said: “To come away from a major tournament like the European Championships with two silver medals is a good performance by the team. It was good to see Natasha starting to get back to her best and, for Stacey, it has been unbelievable start to her international career winning a silver medal in her first tournament.

“It is reassuring to see that we are starting to build more strength in depth in women’s boxing and the performance and results here will stand us in good stead for the major tournaments we have coming up later in the year.”